Fashion Freaky Friday

On Wednesdays we wear pink. Wait, actually—Regina, no. On Wednesdays we wear whatever we want. While fashion used to be all about conformity, today, self-expression is the name of the game. Regina George and other societal bullies kept a stronghold on wardrobes everywhere, wielding fashion as their weapon of choice to keep stereotypes and conformity in place. But things began to shift in the new millenium. The 2010s brought a new age bent on shaking up the status quo, from all things social justice to streetwear style. Fashion moved away from mean-girl-endorsed standardization and towards individualistic expression. Harry Styles describes this sentiment, saying, “What women wear. What men wear. For me it’s not a question of that. If I see a nice shirt and get told, ‘But it’s for ladies.’ I think: ‘Okay? [That] doesn’t make me want to wear it less though… I think the moment you feel more comfortable with yourself, it all becomes a lot easier.” As the fashion industry's proclaimed king of androgynous, bold ensembles, Styles highlights the true simplicity that lies within the decision of choosing your fit: If you like it, wear it. It's that simple. If you look at fashion's streetwear and editorial landscapes, you’ll notice that fashions once confined to a specific group are no longer limited by these strict stereotypes as the fluidity of fashion aligns with the fluidity of our culture in America.

Men's Fashion, Women’s Edition:
Not Your Boyfriend’s Sweatshirt

Sorry, Dad, Khakis Are Ours Now

White-button down, khakis, belt. Sounds like a private school uniform—and not the chic, Gossip Girl kind. Yet, one of Addison Rae’s recent looks upgraded the classic shirt by pairing it with snake-skin, knee-high boots and a chunky, black belt. The revamping of these three classics says goodbye to notions of dull, bland, uniform khakis—as style icons like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner accessorize the pant with pops of color, white heels and tiny tops. Elevate this “Jake from State Farm” style staple by topping off the look with a bold lip, mini sunglasses and an oversized, faux leather jacket for a simple day-to-night transformation.

Image Courtesy: Pinterest

The Workwear Essential

Ah, the blazer. The boring, workwear layer. Leave it to women to masterfully make the mundane cool. From Jennifer Aniston’s vintage fit paired with retro sunnies, to Solange Knowles’ leather, snakeskin look at the Met Gala, the blazer has never looked better. Fashion may have once been all about conformity, but one look at Lupita Nyong’o’s red-patterned suit and all we want to do is stand out. Although, what would women’s suits be without Blake Lively? Her range of workwear-chic looks is unparalleled; and she’s not afraid to incorporate bold colors, patterns and materials to elevate a simple suit. When criticized for the number of suits she wore on her press tour for A Simple Favor, Lively shot back, “Would you note a man wearing lots of suits during a promo tour? So why can't a woman? Just sayin’. No double standards ladies.” Led by our style icon Lively, we’re ready to break down those gender barriers, one suit at a time.

Women’s Fashion, Men’s Edition:

bOYS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

Nail art

Long overdue, men’s manis are here and ready to play. Sundress rapper ASAP Rocky has never been afraid to add a pop of color to his look with bold nail art, accessorizing the trend with oversized, chunky rings. Rocky toned-down the polish by leaving a few fingers blank—a simple touch for anyone looking to try out the trend without flaunting full on claws. Marc Jacobs and Anwar Hadid also hopped on the polish trend, with Jacobs suavely flashed his freshly-manicured, maroon nails, while Hadid effortlessly sported bold a neon manicure with bae Dua Lipa. Guys: if you’re nervous about taking the plunge into polish, try coordinating your polish with your partner or sport one nail at a time for an edgy look. Soon you’ll be rocking the perfect mani with the best of them.

Pretty in Pink

Contrary to popular opinion, men can wear pink and rock it too. The fun and vibrant shade brings life to any outfit, making it the perfect color to elevate your style this Fall. Pete Davidson’s uplifting smile and mood matches the playful color-blocking look he sports for a casual street-style ensemble. in his street style look. Bringing this vibrance into men’s fashion so confidently perfectly portrays the purpose of this new wave- to be accepting of a guy wearing any shade or any trend. After all, society’s strict rules around what guys can wear is getting a little old! The vibrant tone of pink spices up an old-fashioned collared shirt. Showing off your most striking look will make all the girls do a double-take. GQ’s most recent cover boy Timothee Chalamet also takes to the gram to carelessly sport his pink pants, garnering over 3 million likes. The taboo about men wearing pink has exponentially plummeted over the years, just as so many other taboos about men’s clothing have. Even Regina George approves of this trend- and she wouldn’t even let her own girlfriends wear pink on a Tuesday. Flash forward fiver years, the only thing that’s strange about men wearing pink on Wednesday’s is if you can’t approve of it. The strict stigmas put around the color pink, or any shade for that matter, are long gone.

The Murse

Keep the essentials close to your chest by trading your trusty wallet for a cross-body murse moment. Once reserved for women’s,fashion, fanny packs, satchels and bags are getting a masculine makeover thanks to the guys that don’t feel the need to conform to the bland social norms of menswear. Vogue writer Christian Allaire elevates an all-black ensemble with a Gucci cross-body bag—highlighting his cherry red, 70’s-inspired collar. Furthermore Louis Vuitton SS20 collection displayed bulky, patterned satchels perfect for transitioning to winter months with cool-toned prints paired with muted outerwear. Worried about rocking your own murse? Opt for an all-black fanny pack to elevate your look without sacrificing function for fashion. So say sayonara to that black, worn-out briefcase everyone’s dad uses (yes, the one with the single silver strap) and hello to a new line of men’s purses.

As fashion begins to celebrate self-expression over standardization, stereotypes from decades past are fading fast. In the 50’s, women’s style was defined by sweetheart necklines, puffy sleeves and big skirts. By reimagining female fashion, dated ideas of what is considered appropriate are left behind. No longer solely dainty, sweet and soft, women are fitting into their new feminist role in blazers, suits and shoulder pads. While women break into menswear, men are breaking out. Harry Styles, Pete Davidson and Timothee Chalamet are leading the pack into a new era of androgynous style, swapping out menswear basics for colorful and sparkly renditions. The thin lines of what is considered acceptable attire can now be defined as whatever the individual considers acceptable.

No longer is fashion a weapon to keep gender stereotypes and social norms in place, but a way for individuals to express their own style and move towards equality. The 2020’s are all about finding what’s best for you: whether it be the clothes you wear, the food you eat, or what you believe in. With so many altering viewpoints in the growing global culture created through social media, we can all learn a little something from each other by keeping an open-mind and heart. So let’s kiss mean-girl mandates goodbye and welcome this new age of self expression for all, no matter their beliefs, race, sexuality, or sense of style. And for that, our generation is striking. So guys, give your blazer to your girlfriend and girls, let him borrow your black polish.

Strike Out,

Writers: Jenna Dougherty and Kate Corcoran

Editors: Hallie Wright and Jolie Freedman

Gainesville

Men's Fashion, Women’s Edition:Not Your Boyfriend’s Sweatshirt